Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-22
WHAT Is KNOWN OF THIS SOME.
WHAT MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.
The Astronomical Aspects Of Its Re
appearance-What Tycho Brahe
Saw and Said Concerning it.

stuu olteIb Will pen III manu- pTOHer Varl-
Gus information and conjecture on the sub.
iect The star of Bethlehem, it is said
has appeared at about even intervals of a
little more than 300 years. 1t appeared OF
record in the years 945, 1864 and 1872
The interval between the first two dates is
3I9 years, and the next interval is 3OS
years The latter figure added to 1872
gives 1880, and the former gives 1891
The inference is deemed irresistible that
II will reappear within four years from
this time and suddenly. Every unusual
flicker in the sky is accordingly hailed by
expectant and ambitious astronomers as
the first scintillations of the marvellous re-
turn, and announced promptly, so that in
case his prophetic SOUP has not misled
him he will be recognized as the eminent
rediscoverer.
The appearance of A. d. 945 and A. D.
1854 were vaguely recorded in the then
low condition of astronomical science
But in the year 1872 the renowned Tycho
Brahe was 10 his prime, and he wrote out
a long and carefully prepared description
of the phenomenon. In strictness he was
not the rediscoverer, but his cotemporary
villagers in the place in Denmark where
his observatory was situated. The circum-
stances are thus related:
The appearance of the star of 1872
was so sudden that Tycho Brahe return
ing one evening from his laboratory to his
dwelling-house was surprised to find a
group OF country people gazing at the
star which he was sure did not exist half
an hour before. This was the star in ques-
ton. 1t was as bright as Sirius and contin-
ued to increase until it surpassed Jupiter,
and when brightest it was visible at mid
day. 1t began to diminish in December
of the same year. and in March, 1874, had
disappeared"
In a standard work on astronomy Tycho
Brahe's own description of the star is
given in a condensed way, as follows
q" The star lasted from November, 1872, to
March, 1874, or seventeen months. 1t was
brighter than Sirius and rivaled Venus.
Its color was successfully white, yellow, red
and white again, and it remained station
airy all the while in the position which it
occupied when discovered"
As remarked above, the intervals of the
previous recorded appearances were 30S,
and 3l9 years. the mean of which, disre-
garding the fraction, is 314 years. The
elapsed period of 945 years, which fixes the
first date Of record, is divisible into three
equal periods of 3l5 years, thus correspond
ing in the initiation of the series with the
beginning of the Christian era Arith-
matically, and upon the basis of data so
accepted, it is therefore demonstrated to
the satisfaction of many minds that we
have here the scriptural star of Bethle-
hem
The account of the star is contained in
the Book of Matthew The statement is
that in the days of Herod the King there
came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
saying, Where is he that is born king OF
the Jews? for we have seen his star in the
east and are come to worship him. Herod,
hearing of this assembled the chief priests
and scribes to consult with them as to
where, by ancient prophesy, Christ should
be born. The response of those assem-
bled was that it should be IL Bethlehem
of Judea.
Herod then called the wise men into his
counsels and desired that they should seek
out this child that he also might come and
worship him, and the record is that when
the wise men had heard the King they
departed and 10 the star which they saw
III the east came and stood over where the
young child was When they saw the star
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy"
An astronomical paraphrase of thisstate-
ment is somewhat difficult to make. The
map shows that Bethlehem is about five
miles from Jerusalem, and nearly due south
The statement seems to require that the
star visible in the east either had pre-.
viously, or upon the going forth of the
wise men, gained p lace on or near the
meridian. From that position it might
miraculouslv, though not astronomically
go before them in a southerly direction
To account for the stars standing still over
. particular stable in Bethlehem is. als(
astronomically difficult.
Difficulties in the way of identifying the
star seen by Tycho Brahe with the. stal
described in scripture arise from othel
than purely astronomical grounds 1t il
within the knowledge of all readers that
scriptural accounts of marvellous events dc
not in general omit peculiar and striking
details in the event witnessed; and it i
certainly an exception to this rule, if the
star referred to in Matthew were white
yellow, red and white again." as described
on its temperance by Tycho Brahe, tina
ton.
1t is to he considered that Brahe's mean
of observation were no better than thos'
of the original observers, the telescope no
having been invented at the date of hi
record. But the main difficulty as mat
ter of reasoning is this, that if the sta
has regularly reappeared at intervals @
about 3l5 years since the beginning of tn
Christian era, 1t must on Astronomical
grounds have had similar periodity il
the ages prior to that date.
The question arises why that particula
appearance should betoken or certify t,
anything more of the supernatural thai
did any of the others. The difficulty
not avoided by saying that on that occa
sion the star ceased to move west when a
or near the meridian point and began t
move south. Stars that appeared in for
mer centuries can only be identified wit
those seen now by their position or thei
motion in space. Stars OF quite recen
date might doubtless be identified by tn,
spectrum.
There is no astronomical difficulty in tn
proposition that a brilliant star suddenl
appeared at the date of the lightning {
our era, and. having vanished, again AZ
peared after three centuries or more. 81
John Herschel makes the following IT
marks on this phenomena:
Temporary stars are those which al
pear from time to time in different part
of the heavens blazing forth with extri
ordinary luster and, after remaining Will
apparently immovable, have died ava
and left no trace. Such is the star which
suddenly appearing some time about tn
year 125 B. c., and which was visible i
the daytime, is said to have attracted tn
attention of Hipparchus and led him /
draw up catalogue of stars, the earle.
on record. Such, too, is the star whic
appeared A. D. SS9 in Aquila. remainin
for three weeks as BRIGHT as Venus an